As The World Turns: Changes In Our Culture
Bible Study
A Faith For All Seasons
A Small Group Bible Study Of Life’s Changes
Object:
Every generation has its transitions. In the 1960's, an era of challenging authority was ushered in, as government leaders, educators, law enforcement, clergy, and parents found themselves no longer able to command attention and respect. Now it had to be earned. In the '80s it was the beginning of the "information age." In just one generation, we went from knowing nothing about computers, to relying upon computers for nearly every task in our lives. Y2K (remember that scare?) could not have happened in 1960, but as a result of the progress of the 1980s technology gurus, the fear of a new millennium became very real in 2000.
However, I would suggest that the transition to a new millennium did not actually begin on January 1, 2000; rather, it began on September 12, 2001. On that day, America awoke to the startling realization that we were not invincible. And to be more accurate, the real transition did not happen as a result of the terrorist's attacks on September 11, 2001. Change had been percolating for many years. The point is, it's a different world than it was just four years ago. The fear of another terrorist attack is real, and it has affected politics, the economy, air travel, the church, major league baseball games, and the sale of duct tape!
But fear over other changes in our society also abounds. Many are concerned that "outsourcing" will move their jobs overseas. Others fear for their children's safety in the halls at school, or on the playground, or even at a church outing. People today are nervous about the economy, nervous about a war, nervous about anthrax, and whoever heard of "road rage" or AIDS or no-fault divorce a generation ago? Truly, it's a different world than the one many of us grew up in, and certainly the one our parents grew up in. What can we do with all these uncertainties and fears that swirl around us and those we love? That's a question just waiting for an answer!
This session, perhaps more than any other, is a reprise of Merv Thompson's claim that "the only two certainties in this life are Jesus Christ and change." But one truth does remain; that those who believe in Jesus Christ can know peace in the midst of chaos because the kingdom of Jesus will reign forever, and we will be a part of it. May this session give you hope, not based on national security, or financial prosperity, or simplistic piety, but rather, on the unchanging majesty of God.
Opening Prayer
Gracious God, we confess that we are often afraid. When enemies attack us, or when we feel alone, or when our faith seems like a mustard seed compared to the complicated issues of life, our fear can be overwhelming. Remind us that you are with us in every circumstance. Amen.
For Starters
1. Think of a time in junior high school when you were afraid. What was it that caused the fear? A certain teacher? A school bully? A family problem? Fear of punishment from your parents? Looking back, was that fear justified? Why or why not?
2. What would be "the list" of the things kids are afraid of today? Are those fears justified?
3. There is such a thing as "healthy fear." When is fear a good thing?
4. What changes has the church undergone in your lifetime that excite you? What changes disappoint or offend you?
A Word From Others
A Christian congregation is not a sanctuary from the world, but a window on what God, in Christ, is doing in the world.
-- Pastor Mary E. Hinkle
Fear not that your life shall come to an end, but rather that it shall never have a beginning.
-- John Henry Newman
Come gather 'round people, wherever you roam
And admit that the waters around you have grown
And accept it that soon you'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone
For the times, they are a-changin'
-- Bob Dylan
The 1990s have turned out to be a tough time for pastors. The North American church is traveling through a transition period in history. No one knows where we are going. Nevertheless, church members expect their pastors to know.
-- Pastor Leith Anderson
A Church for the 21st Century
God's Word for ever shall abide, no thanks to those who fear it
For God himself fights by our side with weapons of the Spirit
Were they to take our house, goods, honor, child or spouse,
Though life be wrenched away, they cannot win the day
The Kingdom's ours forever!
-- Martin Luther,
"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"
Sometimes he calms the storm; other times, he calms his child.
-- Lyrics by Tony Wood and Kevin Stokes,
"Sometimes He Calms The Storm"
Recorded by Scott Krippayne
Getting Personal
In the spring and summer of 2004, I was given a fifteen-week sabbatical by my congregation. What a gift! I read, I relaxed, I played golf and fished, and I spent nine weeks in Europe "breathing Luther." I lived in Wittenburg for several weeks, and then traveled to the cities and sites that molded Luther's life into a bold and radical agent for church change. It was a time I will never forget!
However, while I was gone, some amazing things back home changed. Because there was very little English media available to me, I was oblivious to the fact that President Ronald Reagan died, that Iraq had become a sovereign nation, or that Tampa Bay had won the Stanley Cup. At home, my wife rearranged the furniture, the grass seed I spread just before I left had become lush and green, and our favorite next-door neighbors divorced, sold their house, and moved. At church, two staff people resigned their positions, five new families joined our congregation, and the property committee planted 35 shrubs and nine mature evergreen trees! All of this happened while I was away, so when I returned, there was a bit of culture shock for me. Had I been here, I would have absorbed the changes as they unfolded; however, since I was gone when these changes occurred, I had the feeling that my world was coming apart at the seams.
Change is always happening; gradually, but we don't seem to notice change when it is a part of our everyday lives. Think of it this way: When we are with our small children every day, we may not notice their growth. But when Grandma and Grandpa visit, after not seeing their grandchild for three weeks, the child's growth is monumental.
Some changes in this world go unnoticed because we have chosen to ignore them. If we are disgusted by the news, we might stop reading the newspaper. If we resent the changes at church, we may stop attending for a while. It is when we remove ourselves from the changing culture that change overwhelms us. "Cocooning" does not prevent change from happening; it merely delays our awareness of it. Therefore, the more aware we are of our culture -- of the world in which we live -- the more adaptable we will be to the inevitable changes that occur.
1. In what ways have you seen people (perhaps even yourself) cocoon, and therefore, become isolated from change in the world?
2. What are ways that people in your community can help guide and effect change? What are the ways (if any) that they can inhibit change?
Looking At Scripture
God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken and the mountains fall into the ocean depths; even if the seas roar and rage, and the hills are shaken by the violence. There is a river that brings joy to the city of God, to the sacred house of the Most High. God is in that city, and it will never be destroyed; at early dawn he will come to its aid. Nations are terrified, kingdoms are shaken; God thunders, and the earth dissolves. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Come and see what the LORD has done. See what amazing things he has done on earth. He stops wars all over the world; he breaks bows, destroys spears, and sets shields on fire. "Stop fighting" he says, "and know that I am God, supreme among the nations, supreme over the world." The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
-- Psalm 46 (GNB)
This is called "Luther's Psalm" probably because it was this text that provided the inspiration for his most noted hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." There is something comforting about this psalm that draws us in and causes us to feel a sense of peace. Perhaps it is the repeated phrase, "The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge." Or perhaps it is in the listing of God's omnipotent ability to end wars, to still our hearts, to calm the seas, and to make sense out of the chaos of our lives. Or maybe it is simply in knowing that, even 400 years before Christ, people were afraid of tumultuous change, and sought God's protection and grace, just like us!
On September 12, 2001, at a prayer service following those horrific terrorist attacks, Psalm 46 provided the verses we focused on. Our world was shaken by violence! Our people were terrified! We needed to cling to a promise that there was a God who is ultimately in control of this planet! A sanctuary filled with anxious adults and children heard the soothing voice of God whisper, "Be still and know that I am God, supreme among the nations, supreme over the world."
About The Text
1. In considering Psalm 46, how has God been a "refuge and shelter" for you? Be as specific as you can be.
2. Have you ever seen God's hand intervene in disaster, distress, or chaos in the world?
3. Discuss the following words (images) and how they might relate to the church and Christian life:
A. "A river that brings joy...."
B. "A city where God dwells...."
C. "The thunder of God...."
D. "Being still...."
4. There are many promises in this psalm, however not all of them have come to be. What do you make of the psalmist's promise that "... He stops wars all over the world; he breaks bows, destroys spears, and sets shields on fire"? Why hasn't God delivered on these promises?
5. How does this psalm speak to the changes -- both the minor changes and the enormous changes -- that are unfolding in our world?
Going A Bit Deeper
1. Is there an issue pending in your life right now that, if God were to intervene, it would alter the course of your life? Have you prayed about that? Can you share it with your small group so that they can pray about it?
2. It's been said that we often task God to change circumstances, but that God sometimes changes us. Has that ever been true for you?
Before you gather for your final small group discussion, take a few moments to dream! While no one but God knows the future, try to imagine what your life will be like ten years from now. Have some fun with it, but try to project where you'll be living (or if you'll be living!), your job, your children, your hobbies. Jot these down below and come prepared to share next time.
Closing Prayer
Gracious God, we know that the world in which we live is constantly changing, and confess that we are sometimes afraid. Turn our fear into hope, give us wisdom to effect positive change in our setting, and allow us to embrace the changes that make this world a more loving, caring place. Amen.
For Further Reading
Anderson, Leith. A Church for the 21st Century. Minneapolis: Beth-any House Publishers, 1992.
Hansel, Tim. Holy Sweat. Dallas: Word Publishing, 1987.
Sweet, Leonard. Carpe Manana. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing, 2001.
However, I would suggest that the transition to a new millennium did not actually begin on January 1, 2000; rather, it began on September 12, 2001. On that day, America awoke to the startling realization that we were not invincible. And to be more accurate, the real transition did not happen as a result of the terrorist's attacks on September 11, 2001. Change had been percolating for many years. The point is, it's a different world than it was just four years ago. The fear of another terrorist attack is real, and it has affected politics, the economy, air travel, the church, major league baseball games, and the sale of duct tape!
But fear over other changes in our society also abounds. Many are concerned that "outsourcing" will move their jobs overseas. Others fear for their children's safety in the halls at school, or on the playground, or even at a church outing. People today are nervous about the economy, nervous about a war, nervous about anthrax, and whoever heard of "road rage" or AIDS or no-fault divorce a generation ago? Truly, it's a different world than the one many of us grew up in, and certainly the one our parents grew up in. What can we do with all these uncertainties and fears that swirl around us and those we love? That's a question just waiting for an answer!
This session, perhaps more than any other, is a reprise of Merv Thompson's claim that "the only two certainties in this life are Jesus Christ and change." But one truth does remain; that those who believe in Jesus Christ can know peace in the midst of chaos because the kingdom of Jesus will reign forever, and we will be a part of it. May this session give you hope, not based on national security, or financial prosperity, or simplistic piety, but rather, on the unchanging majesty of God.
Opening Prayer
Gracious God, we confess that we are often afraid. When enemies attack us, or when we feel alone, or when our faith seems like a mustard seed compared to the complicated issues of life, our fear can be overwhelming. Remind us that you are with us in every circumstance. Amen.
For Starters
1. Think of a time in junior high school when you were afraid. What was it that caused the fear? A certain teacher? A school bully? A family problem? Fear of punishment from your parents? Looking back, was that fear justified? Why or why not?
2. What would be "the list" of the things kids are afraid of today? Are those fears justified?
3. There is such a thing as "healthy fear." When is fear a good thing?
4. What changes has the church undergone in your lifetime that excite you? What changes disappoint or offend you?
A Word From Others
A Christian congregation is not a sanctuary from the world, but a window on what God, in Christ, is doing in the world.
-- Pastor Mary E. Hinkle
Fear not that your life shall come to an end, but rather that it shall never have a beginning.
-- John Henry Newman
Come gather 'round people, wherever you roam
And admit that the waters around you have grown
And accept it that soon you'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone
For the times, they are a-changin'
-- Bob Dylan
The 1990s have turned out to be a tough time for pastors. The North American church is traveling through a transition period in history. No one knows where we are going. Nevertheless, church members expect their pastors to know.
-- Pastor Leith Anderson
A Church for the 21st Century
God's Word for ever shall abide, no thanks to those who fear it
For God himself fights by our side with weapons of the Spirit
Were they to take our house, goods, honor, child or spouse,
Though life be wrenched away, they cannot win the day
The Kingdom's ours forever!
-- Martin Luther,
"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"
Sometimes he calms the storm; other times, he calms his child.
-- Lyrics by Tony Wood and Kevin Stokes,
"Sometimes He Calms The Storm"
Recorded by Scott Krippayne
Getting Personal
In the spring and summer of 2004, I was given a fifteen-week sabbatical by my congregation. What a gift! I read, I relaxed, I played golf and fished, and I spent nine weeks in Europe "breathing Luther." I lived in Wittenburg for several weeks, and then traveled to the cities and sites that molded Luther's life into a bold and radical agent for church change. It was a time I will never forget!
However, while I was gone, some amazing things back home changed. Because there was very little English media available to me, I was oblivious to the fact that President Ronald Reagan died, that Iraq had become a sovereign nation, or that Tampa Bay had won the Stanley Cup. At home, my wife rearranged the furniture, the grass seed I spread just before I left had become lush and green, and our favorite next-door neighbors divorced, sold their house, and moved. At church, two staff people resigned their positions, five new families joined our congregation, and the property committee planted 35 shrubs and nine mature evergreen trees! All of this happened while I was away, so when I returned, there was a bit of culture shock for me. Had I been here, I would have absorbed the changes as they unfolded; however, since I was gone when these changes occurred, I had the feeling that my world was coming apart at the seams.
Change is always happening; gradually, but we don't seem to notice change when it is a part of our everyday lives. Think of it this way: When we are with our small children every day, we may not notice their growth. But when Grandma and Grandpa visit, after not seeing their grandchild for three weeks, the child's growth is monumental.
Some changes in this world go unnoticed because we have chosen to ignore them. If we are disgusted by the news, we might stop reading the newspaper. If we resent the changes at church, we may stop attending for a while. It is when we remove ourselves from the changing culture that change overwhelms us. "Cocooning" does not prevent change from happening; it merely delays our awareness of it. Therefore, the more aware we are of our culture -- of the world in which we live -- the more adaptable we will be to the inevitable changes that occur.
1. In what ways have you seen people (perhaps even yourself) cocoon, and therefore, become isolated from change in the world?
2. What are ways that people in your community can help guide and effect change? What are the ways (if any) that they can inhibit change?
Looking At Scripture
God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken and the mountains fall into the ocean depths; even if the seas roar and rage, and the hills are shaken by the violence. There is a river that brings joy to the city of God, to the sacred house of the Most High. God is in that city, and it will never be destroyed; at early dawn he will come to its aid. Nations are terrified, kingdoms are shaken; God thunders, and the earth dissolves. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Come and see what the LORD has done. See what amazing things he has done on earth. He stops wars all over the world; he breaks bows, destroys spears, and sets shields on fire. "Stop fighting" he says, "and know that I am God, supreme among the nations, supreme over the world." The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
-- Psalm 46 (GNB)
This is called "Luther's Psalm" probably because it was this text that provided the inspiration for his most noted hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." There is something comforting about this psalm that draws us in and causes us to feel a sense of peace. Perhaps it is the repeated phrase, "The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge." Or perhaps it is in the listing of God's omnipotent ability to end wars, to still our hearts, to calm the seas, and to make sense out of the chaos of our lives. Or maybe it is simply in knowing that, even 400 years before Christ, people were afraid of tumultuous change, and sought God's protection and grace, just like us!
On September 12, 2001, at a prayer service following those horrific terrorist attacks, Psalm 46 provided the verses we focused on. Our world was shaken by violence! Our people were terrified! We needed to cling to a promise that there was a God who is ultimately in control of this planet! A sanctuary filled with anxious adults and children heard the soothing voice of God whisper, "Be still and know that I am God, supreme among the nations, supreme over the world."
About The Text
1. In considering Psalm 46, how has God been a "refuge and shelter" for you? Be as specific as you can be.
2. Have you ever seen God's hand intervene in disaster, distress, or chaos in the world?
3. Discuss the following words (images) and how they might relate to the church and Christian life:
A. "A river that brings joy...."
B. "A city where God dwells...."
C. "The thunder of God...."
D. "Being still...."
4. There are many promises in this psalm, however not all of them have come to be. What do you make of the psalmist's promise that "... He stops wars all over the world; he breaks bows, destroys spears, and sets shields on fire"? Why hasn't God delivered on these promises?
5. How does this psalm speak to the changes -- both the minor changes and the enormous changes -- that are unfolding in our world?
Going A Bit Deeper
1. Is there an issue pending in your life right now that, if God were to intervene, it would alter the course of your life? Have you prayed about that? Can you share it with your small group so that they can pray about it?
2. It's been said that we often task God to change circumstances, but that God sometimes changes us. Has that ever been true for you?
Before you gather for your final small group discussion, take a few moments to dream! While no one but God knows the future, try to imagine what your life will be like ten years from now. Have some fun with it, but try to project where you'll be living (or if you'll be living!), your job, your children, your hobbies. Jot these down below and come prepared to share next time.
Closing Prayer
Gracious God, we know that the world in which we live is constantly changing, and confess that we are sometimes afraid. Turn our fear into hope, give us wisdom to effect positive change in our setting, and allow us to embrace the changes that make this world a more loving, caring place. Amen.
For Further Reading
Anderson, Leith. A Church for the 21st Century. Minneapolis: Beth-any House Publishers, 1992.
Hansel, Tim. Holy Sweat. Dallas: Word Publishing, 1987.
Sweet, Leonard. Carpe Manana. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing, 2001.
